Everything Happens For a Reason

Cranberry Daiquiri

I stood there for a while. My hair soaking wet from the rain, my shoes almost flooded from the water that surrounded me. Drew's voice echoed threw the alleyway, begging for me to come back, "he made the first move, I swear!" Drew and I met in college, we were both gay so I guess another boy who shared the same feelings as me gave me an opportunity to love, and, if I'm honest, Drew was a nice guy, but I knew he was seeing someone else. It was obvious, especially over these last couple of weeks. I turned around, my hair soaking, Drew looking as pathetic as usual. Those foolish eyes said it all.
"Hey Drew, do you even know what the worst part was?"
He stood there, confused.
"Steven wasn't even gay."
I took a quick drink of my whiskey bottle and walked off, laughing all the way. I didn't know where I was going, but I did know that when my relationships end like this, I go to the most amazing gay bar that could have ever opened, New York, New York. Many memories of heartbreak often are made there, but this time, I wasn't even heartbroken. I was just happy that I proved him wrong, which I never did in all our relationship.

As I arrived, I was immediately greeted by my best friend, Elliot Jones, or to be more precise, Bianca Henderson. That's her Drag name anyway.
"Drew?" She asks as though she already knows.
I nod with a smile and tell her what happened.
"Well I think it's safe to say you've just stole my place on the throne of sass darling!"
All of her drag friends (bar tenders) all gather around laughing with me. We hadn't spoke in ages, so it seemed. Bianca knows me more than anyone. Me and Elliot had been friends since I moved here, 5 years ago. I shared an apartment with him for a while and came up with a drag name for him.
"Actually, I think this is your lucky day Ryan!" She smiles at me and the door. I turn around and there, walking inside, is the most beautiful man I have ever witnessed. His hair was dark brown, matching his eyes, his dimples were so perfect and so were his lips. When I scanned him even more he was wearing red nail varnish! That was just incredible. I never believed in love at first sight but I really had just fallen for this man head over heels.

I've not even introduced myself properly yet, nevermind this gorgeous man standing in front of me. My name is Ryan Fletcher Smith and I was born in England into a family of three boys, with my brothers, Oscar and Charlie. My mum is called Olivia and my dad is called Tony. I think my mum started noticing I was gay when I got to age 11, playing with Barbie dolls and all my friends were girls so as you can imagine my dad wasn't happy with this idea and he left us with pretty much nothing. My mum worked in a 2/5 star diner down the road and the money she was earning wasn't enough to pay the rent. My mum never gave up on me, and that's why I love her. Eventually we were back on our feet, with Oscar working full time at a car wash and everything was perfect. But Charlie wasn't happy. Charlie loved my dad and blamed me for the fact that he left. I understand his pain now and I wish there was some way of contacting him, but when he left us, there was no way we could find him. He just disappeared, along with everything else that we had and eventually there was no house. My mum, Oscar and I were living in my mums boss' apartment, who was drunk all the time so you can imagine how that was. Oscar promised we would have a house and soon we did. It wasn't perfect but it was home, and as far as I know, Mum and Oscar still live there, but I left them when I was sixteen to pursue a new life in New York. I still contact my Mum and Oscar. All the time. I also fly over there for Christmas every year. Sometimes I wish I could go back but then I realise why I came here, and that was to get away from all the troubles at home.

So, getting back to the story, this boy seemed to be walking over to where I was stood at the bar with a huge grin on his face. He leaned over to Bianca with his right arm on the counter, staring at me.
"A Manhattan please, and Cranberry Daiquiri."
He gives me the most breathtaking wink I've ever seen.
"How did you know?"
"About what?"
"The Daiquiri, it's my favourite."
"You're just one of those guys."
"One of who?"
"A cranberry guy. It's my party trick. I can just tell I guess!"
I realise my whiskey bottle is still on the counter and so does Bianca so she discretely takes it away from me. She always has my back in these situations. She's such a gem!
"So, what brings you here?"
Should I tell him? I have no idea. What if he turns away? Okay but he'll like me better if I'm honest. I take a deep breath.
"Heartbreak."
"What a coincidence."
I breathe a sigh of relief.
"Men, huh."
We laugh for a while until he breaks the moment.
"Mine was a girl actually."
Bianca and I look at each other, our hearts sink.
"So you're straight?"
He laughs. Which I should mention is the most gorgeous laugh I've ever heard.
"No I'm bisexual!"
Me and Bianca breathe a sigh of relief.